Cricut Tutorials: Cutting HTV and Weeding Vinyl!

Hi Friends!! We are back with Cricut tutorials step 2 of making our heat transfer t shirt. In step one, I showed you how to create a file in CDS or upload my FREE file (click here for step one of the Cricut tutorials!) Now we are moving on to actually using our Cricut! Woo Hoo!! It really isn’t as hard as you think! Follow these heat transfer vinyl Cricut instructions and you will have your iron on vinyl ready to apply to your project in no time! In this step, I’ll show you all about cutting and weeding vinyl (iron on or heat transfer vinyl!).

First off, let’s talk about names of vinyl. Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and iron on vinyl are the same exact thing!! Cricut just calls their vinyl “Iron On” while most other companies call it “heat transfer vinyl”. My favorites?? I usually work with Siser Easyweed that I get off Amazon or Ebay. If Cricut products are on sale at Joann, Michael’s or Cricut.com, I will buy some of the specialty iron on vinyl like glitter, holographic, patterned, and metallic. Most of these can also be found on Amazon too. I always check the prices between those four companies before I purchase products. Every so often Joann Fabrics will have their Cricut products on sale for 40 or 50% off so I stock up then! Crafters always buy what they don’t need just because it’s on sale, right??!!!

Make sure to check out the previous post so you can see what we’re working on! There is a free “God Bless America” SVG cut file that I will be showing you what to do with after you have everything in Cricut Design Space. At the end of the last video, I showed you how to change everything to “mirror” setting before you cut. Make sure to check that out if you don’t know how to do it.

I have a full video of these steps below, but I’ll also write them for you, in case that’s easier for you!

Just a reminder, these are the products I used for this project that you can get on Amazon. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and/or Cricut. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my links

Cutting HTV with a Cricut

As I said before, make sure that you have clicked the “mirror” setting in CDS on the page when the mats show up. This will flip the image over.

Click continue and connect your machine. Then select your material. If you are using an Explore, turn your knob to “Iron On”. If you are using a specialty iron on, turn your dial to “Custom” and search for the type of vinyl on the drop down menu. If you are using a maker, select “iron on” or whatever type of iron on you are using in the drop down menu

Make sure to place the vinyl on your mat SHINY SIDE DOWN. I use a light grip mat for HTV but you could also use an older green mat that has lost some stickiness. Press the vinyl down flat with your hand or a brayer.

The Cricut’s arrow light will blink when it’s ready for you to insert your mat. Make sure your mat is placed all the way up to the rollers. When you push the blinking light, the rollers will grab the mat and pull it in and stop.

The cut light will then blink when it’s ready to cut. Push it and watch the magic! The Cricut will tell you when it’s done on the screen and also the arrow light will flash again. Unload the mat, add your next iron on vinyl, and do it again.

Here is the video showing you both cutting and weeding iron on.

Tips on Weeding Vinyl – Iron On / HTV

Weeding vinyl is pretty straight forward. Regular vinyl adhesive and iron on vinyl use the same method. Siser Easyweed is super easy to weed, actually easier than adhesive vinyl! I like to keep the backing on a sticky mat or place it back on one if I’ve taken it off. Cut the extra vinyl off so you don’t waste it, just make sure you don’t cut part of your image!

I think using natural light is the easiest way to see the edges. I don’t have a bright pad, but I’m sure they are awesome! If I’m weeding vinyl at night, I’ll grab a desk light and put it on the side. Glitter iron on is probably the hardest to see the edges on, especially if you have an intricate cut. Cutting your iron on with the correct setting should make weeding easier since it’s tested best to cut that specific depth.

Sometimes I have great success weeding with scotch tape. Check out my tutorial here on weeding with tape! For some reason, it doesn’t always work and I can’t figure that out yet! I have also heard of people using a lint roller but I haven’t had success with that yet.

I always turn my iron on over and look at through light to make sure I’ve gotten all the little parts out of the letters.

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